Sunday, December 11, 2011

It was time to break out the glitter and let's just say our room was one big SPARKLE! Take a look at this mess!

Friday we finished up our projects we have been working on the last couple of weeks. First I have to share this AWESOME book I found in the library! It inspired the "If I Lived in a Snowglobe..." writing project. My kids LOVED this book and it inspired some creative writing.

﻿After we read the book, my first graders wrote about what it would be like if they lived in a snowglobe. We used this writing paper. Feel free to grab it, if you'd like.

After they wrote their stories, my students made their own snowglobe. We used a special kind of snowy irridescent glitter that made them look real!

We were so proud of these! While the glitter was out, we used it to decorate some snowflakes to hang out in the hallway. We had glitter on our faces, clothes, hair, E-V-E-R-Y-W-H-E-R-E! How does that happen? We tried to be so careful. We listened to Christmas music and let the sparkle fly!

Here is a little pinterest inspired craft that I just HAD to try out. I think they turned out adorable and they were all unique! Did anyone else try these wreaths? My first graders did everything but staple them together. I have had many compliments on these!

Some students put their first name and some put their last name!

What is amazing is my first graders have been SO well behaved! December first we made stockings from Construction paper and hung them by our cubbies with care. I was able to contact Santa and ask him for a little favor. Every night he sends a couple of elves to our classroom to check out our behavior chart. All the boys and girls that are on green or above get a little something in their stocking. On our last day of school (December 20th) my students get to take their stockings down and see what those elves have left them for being such good little boys and girls! It's been difficult - but NO PEEKING is allowed.

Some items hang out the top...

﻿Finally, here is what our hall looked like after we hung up our snowflakes, snowglobes and writing projects. OH, and I almost forgot. We made our names using cut out christmas lights (another pinterest inspiration!)

Here is a close up of our names in lights.

﻿

I just love this time of year! We have a special parent guest coming this week to present a lesson about Hannakuh and we will make our parent gifts this week as well. I will share those when they are finished. I did the same thing last year and they turned out adorable. I have lots of assessing to do this week, so I hope our behavior incentive continues to influence their choices. Have a great week!

Barbara - The snowflakes are di-cuts of different colors. They just put the glue on and sprinkle the glitter. :)

Elizabeth - The christmas lights are also di-cuts. I had a parent volunteer punch them out for me. Sorry :( Do you have a dicut machine at your school? I was shocked at all the cool patterns we had. I've been using it alot more.

Here is the link to this craft project. I just drew the "no cut" line for my first graders. They cut away, made their berries, bows and wrote their name on their banner cutout. I of course stapled them together, but they were just so adorable!http://andrewrachelashmore.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-in-my-classroom.html

I need to stay away from Pinterest and teacher blogs. The cute ideas always seem to get my credit card in trouble at Barnes and Noble. I just had to order the book, Snow Globe Family, so we can do the writing activity after our winter break. Thanks for sharing.